In this file photo dated Thursday, July 25, 2019, a boy jumps into the water at the beach in Barcelona, Spain.

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2 weeks ago

On These Beaches, Cops Hand Out 'Robbery Kits'

Newser — Neal Colgrass

Going to the beaches of Barcelona? The bad news is that bathers are finding their clothes have been stolen while they're swimming. The good news: Police are handing out so-called "robbery kits" containing a metro ticket, flip-flops, and a pair of shorts to people who find themselves exposed, the Guardian reports.

So far cops have handed out 174 kits to bathers this season along the city's three miles of beaches—where, sadly, 853 thefts have been reported during the same period.

Gentrification and a stunning rise in tourism are considered culprits behind Barcelona's rising crime rates, CityLab reports. France24 says the city of 1.6 million has seen a 28% rise in thefts and violent robberies between 2016 and 2018.